Colorado Avalanche acquire Jack Johnson from Chicago Blackhawks for Andreas Englund

The Colorado Avalanche are bringing back Jack Johnson for another playoff run, as the defenseman returns in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for another defenseman in Andreas Englund.

Johnson was with the Avalanche last season when they went on their run to the Stanley Cup, getting a bit more playing time once Samuel Girard went down with a broken sternum. He signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Blackhawks in the offseason, and has played out his season there until now, being dealt to his old team.

Johnson has played 58 games for the Blackhawks this season, with just four assists. He’s also notorious in the analytics community for his inability to drive play, sometimes even tanking the numbers of elite players like Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang when placed in a prominent role in the lineup. That said, his 48.18% 5v5 expected goal share with the Avalanche last season was his best since 2018, so he’s at least proven that he can manage in a strong system.

In return, the Blackhawks get Englund, a defenseman who fills out a depth role at the NHL-level, and likely serves as a body for the Blackhawks to dress post-trade deadline. He’s played 36 games with the Avalanche this season, with three assists on the year.

The Avalanche have yet to make a significant move as the deadline approaches, mostly just a few depth additions like Johnson, Keith Kinkaid, and Matt Nieto. They currently sit in third place in the Central Division with a 33-19-5 record as they look to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

This move marks the first asset that the Blackhawks have sold this season, although plenty more may be on the way. While Jonathan Toews is off the market now, the Blackhawks are still looking to move the likes of Patrick Kane, Max Domi, Andreas Athanasiou, Jake McCabe, and Sam Lafferty.